Nike has quietly made one of its most exciting tennis moves of the season by signing American standout Hailey Baptiste to a full head-to-toe sponsorship deal, according to Jessica Schiffer of Hard Court. It’s a major step forward for the 24-year-old, who previously held only an in-kind arrangement with the brand, meaning she received apparel but was not officially paid as a sponsored athlete.
In 2025, Baptiste reached her first WTA Tour quarterfinal in Auckland and her maiden Grand Slam Round of 16 at Roland Garros, breaking into the Top 50. This season, she sent shockwaves through Madrid as she saved six match points to stun world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on clay to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal. Before this career-defining moment, Baptiste also scored a statement win over 2025 Roland Garros champion Jasmine Paolini in the third round of the Madrid tournament. Her rapid rise is reflected in her current ranking of world No. 26.
The 24-year-old opens her Roland Garros campaign today against former champion Barbora Krejcikova, a proven force in both singles and doubles. Baptiste is part of a strong American contingent in Paris, with 37 players in the singles draw, the most since 1995.
